(NewsNation) — President Trump said his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea will yield major results for the U.S. economy, including soybean purchases from American farmers and assurances from China that rare earth exports will not be restricted.
The U.S., in turn, will reduce tariffs on Chinese imports, and China promised to crack down on fentanyl ingredients that make their way to America, Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Thursday.
“I thought it was an amazing meeting,” he said. On a scale of zero to 10, Trump said, “I think it was a 12.”
In an indication that relations may be thawing between the two countries, Trump said he’ll be traveling to China in April, with Xi visiting the U.S. sometime thereafter.
The two leaders met to discuss trade in the South Korean city of Busan as economic tensions have been simmering between the U.S. and China.
In public remarks before their mostly private session, Xi said it felt “warm” to meet Trump again for their first sit-down since 2019 and noted the U.S. and China have maintained a “stable” relationship, despite their differences.
“We do not always see eye to eye with each other, and it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then,” Xi added, through a translator.
For his part, Trump heaped praise upon Xi, calling him a “tough negotiator,” in what appeared to be a charm offensive. However, moments before the globally significant summit, the U.S. president posted on social media that the Pentagon would resume nuclear weapons testing on a scale comparable with China and Russia.
Observers saw that as a warning shot, metaphorically, as the U.S. and China got down to brass tacks.
Trump on Wednesday said he expected his meeting with Xi to last three to four hours. But the duration, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, was about one hour, 40 minutes. Both leaders shook hands in open view upon leaving but did not make public remarks at the conclusion.
Trump, following his meeting with Xi, said some topics, including Taiwan, did not come up.
Trump’s meeting with Xi comes at the conclusion of a multiday tour of Asia. The U.S. president has been touting a series of trade agreements with other nations in the region.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Trump to visit China, Xi to come to US
The president told reporters that he will make a visit to China in April and that President Xi will make a reciprocal trip Stateside thereafter.
Trump speaking from Air Force One
The president is gathering with reporters on AF1 to discuss his meeting with Xi.
Meeting ends, with no joint media appearance
Presidents Trump and Xi leave their meeting and shake hands publicly. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the two leaders met for about one hour, 40 minutes, Reuters reported.
Trump declines to answer question about nukes
The media was ushered out of the meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi after a reporter asked about Trump’s earlier social media post about U.S. plans to resume nuclear weapons testing. Some observers saw that as a warning shot across China’s bow, metaphorically.
Xi says it feels ‘warm’ to meet Trump
In opening remarks with both presidents and their representatives at the table, Xi says it feels “warm” to meet Trump again. “We do not always see eye to eye with each other. It is normal … to have friction now and again,” the Chinese president says through a translator.
Two leaders adjourn to meeting room
After handshakes and warm remarks from Trump, the U.S. and Chinese presidents adjourn to a meeting room.
Trump walks out first, to receive China’s Xi
President Trump walked out first to meet President Xi. They shake hands and, through translators, say it’s good to see each other again. “He’s a very tough negotiator, that’s not good,” Trump joked of his Chinese counterpart.
Trump announces nuke testing in leadup to Xi meeting
President Trump said on social media he has told the Pentagon to begin testing U.S. nuclear weapons on an equal basis to China and Russia. The announcement on Truth Social came shortly before he was slated to meet face-to-face with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
No coincidence, former U.S. ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker says.
“This is a signal to China that we’re bigger militarily, we have more nuclear weapons, and we’re going to resume a testing program,” he told “On Balance.”
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Leland Vittert framed President Trump’s summit with China’s Xi Jinping as a pivotal moment in what he calls “the second Cold War.” He said the meeting could determine whether the U.S. retains global dominance as Trump works to curb China’s rise.
Trump-Xi meeting could avert major conflicts: Ex-US ambassadors
Former U.S. ambassador to China Max Baucus and Kurt Volker, ex-U.S. ambassador to NATO, join “On Balance” to discuss what’s at stake as President Trump meets with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
“Both countries are trying to figure out a way to cool things down a bit,” Baucus said. “President Trump would like to meet President Xi in Beijing next year, and he’d like this meeting to work out well enough so that he can do that. President Xi would like to cool things down because he wants to sell in the U.S. market, he wants relief on tariffs, for example, and he wants relief on export controls.”
US, China won’t come to ‘giant trade agreement’: Bill O’Reilly
Bill O’Reilly joins “CUOMO” to discuss President Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Wednesday, as well as the ongoing government shutdown.
President Trump receives golden crown from South Korea for peacemaking efforts
NewsNation Washington correspondent Kellie Meyer details President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, as well as the finalization of a trade deal with South Korea on Wednesday.